1973-01-08

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202403188

Harouna Douamba is an Ivorian businessman, and the head of a pro-Russian, anti-Western disinformation network in the Central African Republic (CAR) and Burkina Faso. In 2011, Douamba founded a non-governmental organisation called Aimons Notre Afrique (ANACOM) in the CAR. That organisation received funding from Lobaye Invest, which has been associated with the Wagner Group. In 2022, Harouna Douamba established the Groupe Panafricain pour le Commerce et l'Investissement (GPCI) in Burkina Faso. GPCI has been involved in covert influence operations. Harouna Douamba’s disinformation networks were dismantled by Meta in May 2021, and later in May 2023. Despite this, GPCI-related disinformation groups are still active and running structured and coordinated disinformation campaigns, with the use of a vast network of information chains. Those campaigns target France in particular, including through accusations of conspiracy, terrorism, destabilisation operations or preparing coups against the Union or its Member States. Therefore, Harouna Douamba is supporting and implementing actions or policies of the Government of the Russian Federation which undermine or threaten democracy, the rule of law, stability or security in a Member State or in a third country by planning, directing, engaging in, directly or indirectly, supporting or otherwise facilitating the use of coordinated information manipulation and interference.

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202403188

2024-12-16

EU

Restrictive measures in view of Russia's destabilising activities

EU country specific

Russia

Asset freeze and prohibition to make funds available, Restrictions on admission

- All assets of the listed persons and entities should be frozen. It is also prohibited to make any funds or assets directly or indirectly available to them. - Member States shall enforce travel restrictions on persons listed in the Annex of Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2643.

In several of its Conclusions in 2022 and 2023 the Council strongly condemned Russian hybrid attacks threatening democracy, the rule of law, stability or security in the Union, its Member States and its partners, in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. In view of Russia’s continued hybrid campaign operations on European soil intended to harm, weaken and divide the Member States and its neighbourhood, on 8 October 2024, the Council established a new framework of targeted sanctions against Russia-driven persons and entities engaged in destabilising activities. the new sanctions framework covers activities such as, sabotage, foreign information manipulation, electoral interference, disinformation, malicious cyber activities and the instrumentalization of migrants by third countries. These restrictive measures consist of a travel ban to the EU for designated individuals and an asset freeze applying to both designated individuals and entities. Additionally, EU persons and entities are prohibited from making funds and economic resources available to those listed, either directly or indirectly. Derogations and exemptions to the restrictive measures are possible, including for the delivery of humanitarian aid.